Big 12 Officiating Crew Suspended for Missouri’s Illegal Punt After Touchdown

The Big 12 conference made headlines by suspending an officiating crew after a controversial decision in the Missouri Tigers’ 42-31 win over the Kansas Jayhawks. This all started when Missouri punted the ball after a touchdown—a move that broke NCAA Football rules.

The incident happened on Saturday. Missouri had just scored a touchdown with 10:53 left in the first quarter.

After the score, officials hit the Tigers with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty, backing them up to their 20-yard line for the kickoff. Instead of a typical kickoff from a tee, Missouri’s Connor Weselman punted the ball.

This should’ve triggered a 5-yard penalty for an illegal kick. Kansas should’ve started their drive at the 43-yard line, not the 38.

Violation of NCAA Rules

This play broke Rule 2, Section 16, Article 6 of NCAA Football rules. The rule says a kickoff must be a place kick or drop kick, except after a safety.

Missouri’s coach Eli Drinkwitz admitted he asked the officials if a punt was allowed, even though he knew it wasn’t. The officiating crew missed the call and now faces suspension.

Repercussions for the Officiating Crew

The Big 12 didn’t waste any time. They pulled the officiating crew from their next scheduled game and issued a reprimand.

Scott Draper, the Big 12’s chief football and competition officer, said the conference holds its officials to a high standard. He commented, “We believe we have one of the best officiating programs in college football. When the Conference’s high standard for officiating is not met, the Big 12 will take action.”

Impact on the Game

This mistake changed the game’s dynamics. Missouri’s punt let Kansas start their drive at the 38-yard line instead of the 43.

Five yards might not sound like much, but in a tight game, it matters. The incident has sparked fresh debates about the importance of following the rules and the officials’ role in keeping things fair.

Coaching Decisions and Strategy

Missouri’s special teams coach Eric Link played a big part in the punt decision. Before the game, the team noticed Kansas struggled to field punts because of the sun.

Link asked the officials if a punt was allowed, knowing it really wasn’t unless it was after a safety. Coach Drinkwitz later compared the move to asking your parents for permission to do something you know you shouldn’t.

He admitted sometimes officials get it wrong, and honestly, who hasn’t tried to bend the rules a little when they see an opportunity?

Future Implications

The Big 12’s suspension of the officiating crew sends a pretty clear message. They won’t tolerate ignoring established rules.

This move might push other conferences to double-check their own officiating standards. It also raises the question: how do you prevent this kind of thing from happening again?

Ensuring Fair Play

Fair play sits right at the core of every sporting event. If you ask me, the whole game falls apart without it.

Rules matter, but it’s really about how you apply them—consistently, accurately. The Big 12 jumped in after this incident, showing they’re serious about getting things right.

By stepping up, the conference wants to keep everyone—teams, coaches, fans—believing in the officiating. Trust is tough to earn and easy to lose, after all.

Curious about the details? You can check out the full article on the New York Times.